GottaCry Ransomware Removal Guide

Although GottaCry Ransomware represents itself as a file-encryptor, this malware is a screen-locker. That means that it blocks access to the operating system in the hopes of tricking victims into taking certain actions. In this case, it is paying money in return for a password that, allegedly, can help users regain access to the system and get the files decrypted. Well, according to the tests conducted by our research team, the infection does NOT encrypt files, and it does NOT delete them either, although that is one of the claims introduced to the victims. Of course, we cannot say that this infection will not evolve in the future, and we cannot guarantee that the threat will not start actually deleting the files. Right now, however, this threat is pretty much harmless. That being said, removing GottaCry Ransomware might not be the easiest of tasks, and we strongly encourage continuing reading to learn more.

How did GottaCry Ransomware slither into your Windows operating system? That is the first question you need to ask yourself. Did this infection use a bundled downloader to slip in along with other questionable programs? Was it introduced to you as a harmless file attached to a spam email? Did the creators exploit system vulnerabilities to drop it without your notice? Were other infections involved in downloading and executing this threat? There are many possibilities and, unfortunately, we do not have a clear answer as to how GottaCry Ransomware spreads. That being said, if you are cautious, your chances of facing this dangerous threat are much smaller. Of course, you do not want to leave your virtual security up to chance. It is crucial to have the operating system secured 24/7, and it is also a good idea to backup personal files. There are plenty of other malicious infections – such as ChaCha Ransomware or TitanCryptor Ransomware – that can cause irreversible damage, and backups are the perfect insurance against them all.

If the devious GottaCry Ransomware ends up slithering in, a window entitled “GottaCry | Windows encryptor” should show up right away. According to the message represented via this window, all files and the operating system itself are encrypted, and you need to pay money to get a decryptor. The message also informs that if you restart the computer, all files on the computer would be removed and all passwords would be leaked. Needless to say, this is very intimidating. This is why some victims of the infection might decide to connect with the attackers via the presented Discord contact or pay the ransom ($50 via a dedicated Bitcoin Wallet or $70 via PayPal) right away. Do not do that until you fully understand what is going on. As we mentioned before, it is unlikely that your system will be affected after you restart your computer, and your files are not encrypted. That being said, our research team has to warn you that GottaCry Ransomware does have the function to remove files on the PC. During our tests, however, this function was not activated.

Since GottaCry Ransomware can disable the Task Manager, you cannot terminate the infection’s process and initiate removal right away. You have to restart the computer first, and, hopefully, your files are not deleted in the process. Of course, we cannot make any promises about that, and you have to understand the risk. Even if you decide to reboot the system in Safe Mode, you could face the same issue. That being said, we do not recommend paying the ransom because you are unlikely to get the password anyway. Regardless of the steps you take, you must delete GottaCry Ransomware, and the instructions below will not be of much help if you cannot find the infection’s file. We cannot point you to it because it could be anywhere, and its name is likely to be random. This is why we believe that implementing reliable anti-malware software is the better idea. At the end of the day, you need to secure your system too, and an anti-malware tool can take care of that.

How to delete GottaCry Ransomware

1. Locate the launcher of the infection. This file could be placed anywhere, and its name could be random.
2. Right-click the malicious file and choose Delete.
3. Delete other recently downloaded suspicious files and then Empty Recycle Bin.
4. Install and run a malware scanner that will let you know if there are any leftovers that must be deleted.